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Built between 1879 and 1881The section from [[Siliguri]] to Kurseong was opened on 23 August 1880, while the official opening of the original line ran (and still does) for 51 miles from up to [[SiliguriDarjeeling]] (about 100m was on 4 July 1881. <ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railway Wikipedia “Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway”]; Retrieved 24 Dec 2017</ref>.<br>The line was extended from Kurseong to Sanada, Feb 1881; to Ghum in altitude) to Apr 1881 and [[Darjeeling]] in Jul 1881, with a the last ¼ mile (about 2200m0.4km)to Darjeeling Bazar in Jun 1885<ref name=Hist1937>[https://ia801605.us.archive.org/30/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.36650/2015.36650.India-Railway-Board-History-Of-Indian-Railways-Constructed-And-In-Progress.pdf US Archive .org pdf download of ‘History Of Indian Railways, constructed and in progress’, 31 March 1937 by ‘The Government of India - Railway Department’ page 224, pdf 267]; Retrieved 19 Aug 2020</ref>.
In 1913, At the system was extended from [[Siliguri]] south-westwards terminus there was the connection to the [[KishanganjEastern_Bengal_Railway_-_Lines_owned_and_worked#EBR_Broad_Gauge_System|Eastern Bengal Railway Broad Gauge ‘Eastern Section’]]. There was also a short branch from Thus connecting [[SiliguriDarjeeling]] via the EBR to [[Kalimpong RoadCalcutta]]. Technically, these extensions were a separate company, worked by the agency of the first.<ref>[https://ia801009.us.archive.org/8/items/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System.pdf " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 239-240]; Retrieved 17 Dec 2015</ref>
*[http://naturebeautyofindianhillstation.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/darjeeling-railway.html The Darjeeling Railway] naturebeautyofindianhillstation.blogspot
*[http://www.jameshenrymiller.petermillerphotoworld.co.uk/17.html James Henry Miller, His Story, His Words Part Five] [1930s] contains a section “Other Places - Lebong And Darjeeling” including photographs of the railway (scroll down) jameshenrymiller.petermillerphotoworld.co.uk
‘History’ 1937 Admin info added and revised info and layoutand ‘Classification’ added; 1931 Map replacing 1909 Map
{{Line Railways Infobox
|image= Darjeeling-Himalayan_Railway_1942Himalayan Railway Logo b.jpg|caption= ''1942 map''Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Logo
|route= [[Siliguri]] to [[Darjeeling]]<br>[[Siliguri]] to [[Kalimpong Road]]<br>[[Siliguri]] to [[Kishanganj]]
|gauge1=
}}
[[File:Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway (DHR) System.png|thumb| Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway (DHR) System]]
[[File:Darjeeling-Himalayan_Railway_1942.jpg|thumb| Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Map 1942]]
The '''Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway''' (DHR), a 2ft/610mm narrow gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]])
line dating from 1879 and still powered by steam, is today a major tourist destination and UNESCO World Heritage site.
== History ==
'''[[Darjeeling Steam Tramway]]'''
<br>Originally known as the ‘[[Darjeeling Steam Tramway]]’ this 2ft Narrow Gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) steam tramway operated largely in the road. Hence the appropriate name. 'Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co' constructed the railway [[Darjeeling Steam Tramway|- '' see separate page'']].
'''Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Company'''
<br>The name changed to the ‘Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway’(DHR) on the company being formed on 15th September 1881. Built between 1879 and 1881, the original line ran (and still does) for 51 miles from [[Siliguri]] (about 100m in altitude) to [[Darjeeling]] (about 2200m).
'''[[Darjeeling-Himalayan Extensions Railway ]]'''
<br>In 1913, the 2ft Narrow Gauge([[Rail_gauge#Narrow_Gauge|NG]]) was extended from [[Siliguri]] south-westwards to [[Kishanganj]]. There was also a short branch from [[Siliguri]] to [[Kalimpong Road]]. Technically, these extensions were a separate company, worked by the agency of the DHR <ref>[https://ia801009.us.archive.org/8/items/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System.pdf " Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 239-240]; Retrieved 17 Dec 2015</ref>.[[Darjeeling-Himalayan Extensions Railway| - '' see separate page'']].
==Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway (DHR) System===
The ‘Statistics of Working’ show the two railways separately listed under the ‘DHR System’ with a combined mileage of 146 miles(235km) giving separately the year-by-year financial results from 1913-14 through to 1936-37<ref name=Hist1937/>:-
* '''Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway'''
* '''[[Darjeeling-Himalayan Extensions Railway]]'''
== Classification ==
[[Indian Railway Classification]] of 1926 - Class II railway system.
==DHR Railway Workshop==
See separate page '''[[Tindharia Railway Workshop]]'''
==Later Development==
As an assisted railway, the DHR fell into the control of [[Indian Railways]] (IR) after independence. Between 1948 and 1950, the Kishanganj branch was converted to metre gauge and transferred, as part of the '''Assam Rail Link''', to the [[Assam Railway]]. In 1952, the DHR became part of [[North Eastern Railway]] but in 1958 it was transferred to the newly formed [[Northeast Frontier Railway]], an IR zone.
==Records==
Refer to FIBIS Fact File #4: “Research sources for Indian Railways, 1845-1947” - available from the [http://www.fibis.org/store/fibis-books-and-publications/bff-0004-research-sources-for-indian-railways-1845-1947/ Fibis shop]. This Fact File contains invaluable advice on 'Researching ancestors in the UK records of Indian Railways' with particular reference to the [[India Office Records]] (IOR) held at the [[British Library]]
An on-line search of the IOR records relating to this railway (DHR) and the DHR Extensions
<ref>[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 British Library “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search]; Retrieved 20 Jan 2016</ref> gives 6 references. The most important being:-
*'''L/F/8/17/1291''' “Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway Company Limited, Agreement; 1913 “
*'''L/F/8/20/1673''' “Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Company Limited, Supplemental Agreement; 1922”
== External links ==
*[http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r007.html "A Himilayan loop line"] ''Mike's Railway History''.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D2swGCs9fs Indian Hill Railways - The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway] youtube.com. One hour BBC documentary film.
